Discharge device for at least one medium

ABSTRACT

1. Discharge device.  
     2.1. A discharge device for at least one medium having a medium reservoir, a medium pump and an applicator in which a filler is provided for medium guidance and which has an outlet area for a medium discharge fitted to a slender end area remote from the medium reservoir is known.  
     2.2. According to the invention at least two outlets are provided at the outlet area.  
     2.3. Use for medium dosing.

[0001] The invention relates to a discharge device for at least onemedium with a medium reservoir, a medium pump and an applicator, inwhich a medium guide is provided and which has an outlet area for amedium discharge remote from the medium reservoir and fitted to aslender end area.

[0002] Discharge devices for at least one medium with a mediumreservoir, a medium pump and an applicator are known in numerousdifferent constructions in the prior art. EP 1 219 356 A1 describes adischarge device in which a medium to be discharged is stored in amedium reservoir in the form of a glass container prior to discharge.The medium reservoir is closed by an elastic seal and when the dischargedevice is manually operated by a user it is effective as a thrust pistonof a medium pump. On activating the medium pump the medium stored in themedium reservoir is placed under pressure and pressed into anapplicator. On a slender end area of the applicator remote from themedium reservoir is provided a discharge nozzle through which the mediumcan be delivered to the environment. There can in particular be aconical atomization of the medium to be discharged. In the applicator isprovided a filler, which serves as a medium guide from the medium pumpto the discharge nozzle and which is necessary for production reasons inthe case of plastic applicators manufactured by injection moulding. Thefiller is zonally provided with an almost cylindrical shape and containsin a central arrangement a medium channel for carrying the medium. Suchdischarge devices are more particularly used in administering lowviscosity, aqueous medicaments and there can be either a single or amultiple medium discharge from the discharge device.

[0003] The problem of the invention is to provide a discharge device ofthe aforementioned type, which is suitable for a planned discharge of inparticular high viscosity or gel-like media.

[0004] This problem is solved in that at least two outlets are providedat the outlet area. In the case of a discharge device which has to bemanually operated, it is not possible with acceptable effort to producea sufficiently high pressure to allow the atomization of in particular ahigh viscosity or gel-like medium. However, in order to still simulate amedium discharge much as in the case of low viscosity, aqueous mediawhen using a high viscosity or gel-like medium, at least two outlets areprovided at the outlet area. From said outlets the medium passes out asa parallel or slightly diverging medium jet. Thus, for the user there isat least a similar discharge pattern to that occurring in prior artdischarge devices for low viscosity and in particular aqueous media. Toassist this it is possible to take measures at the outlets for favouringa jet expansion or widening. Mention is more particularly made in thisconnection of guidance elements such as dispersion gratings or guidevanes located immediately following the outlet. When the dischargedevice according to the invention is used for low viscosity and inparticular aqueous media, a particularly advantageous distribution ofthe medium to be discharged can be brought about through the at leasttwo outlets at the outlet area. For this purpose the at least twooutlets are given a much smaller outlet cross-section compared withconventional outlets, so that for each outlet there is a particularlyfine, more particularly nebulized medium jet. However, with a dischargestroke of the discharge device it is possible to achieve substantiallysimilar discharge characteristics of the medium to be discharged tothose encountered with known discharge devices. Preferably the mediumguide has a filler located in the applicator and which can beconstructed as a separate part, a part associated with the medium pumpor a part connected to the applicator.

[0005] According to a development of the invention, the outlets formedium discharge are oriented in at least two different main dischargedirections. One main discharge direction of an outlet can be determinedby averaging all the medium vectors occurring with respect to saidoutlet on discharging a medium. With each medium particle to bedischarged is associated a directional vector and as a function of itsvolume a proportional weighting factor, so that the particular mediumvector is obtained. By adding together all the medium vectors it ispossible to determine a main discharge direction for the correspondingoutlet. A differing orientation of the at least two main dischargedirections can be implemented both in a common plane of the maindischarge directions and also by a mutually oblique arrangement of themain discharge directions. In the case of a plurality of different maindischarge directions, it is also conceivable to have combinations ofparallel main discharge directions and those located in the same planesand mutually oblique to one another. This makes it possible to obtain aplanned wetting of juxtaposed or facing application areas for which themedium to be discharged is provided.

[0006] According to a further development of the invention, at least oneoutlet for a main discharge direction is in an angular range of 10 to80ø to an applicator central axis. An applicator central axis isdetermined by an external geometry of the applicator. The applicatoraccording to the invention extends in a main extension direction and isprovided with the slender end area. The applicator central axis largelycorresponds to the main extension direction of the applicator andconsequently simultaneously characterizes in at least an approximatemanner a main flow direction of the medium to be discharged in theapplicator. Through the arrangement of at least one outlet in an angularrange of 10 to 80ø to an applicator central axis, particularly in thecase of a medium discharge in natural body orifices such as the nose,ears or mouth, a planned medium application to certain areas within thebody orifices can be brought about.

[0007] According to a further development of the invention, the at leasttwo outlets are uniformly distributed over the applicator circumferencewith respect to the applicator central axis. Through a uniformdistribution of the at least two outlets over an applicatorcircumference, virtually independently of an orientation of theapplicator by the user, it is possible to ensure that the areas to besubject to the action of the medium are wetted, more particularly withinbody orifices. A uniform distribution of the outlets more particularlyarises if the main discharge directions of the outlets are uniformlymutually spaced on a rotationally symmetrical geometry with radiallyidentical angles to one another. The rotationally symmetrical geometrycan in particular be cylindrical, spherical or conical.

[0008] According to a further development of the invention andconsidered in the discharge direction, a flow guidance geometry for themedium is provided upstream of at least one outlet. A flow guidancegeometry is more particularly obtained through the interaction of aninternal geometry of the applicator with a filler geometry. The flowguidance geometry can on the one hand influence the main dischargedirection of the medium to be discharged and on the other an influencingof an outlet behaviour of the medium to be discharged is possible. Thisis in particular brought about by a deflection of the medium upstream ofat least one outlet, so that additional momentum is applied to themedium to be discharged leading to effects on a jet behaviour on passingout of the outlet. Suitable flow guidance geometries are in particularwhirl channels, sharp or rounded edges or undercuts for producingturbulence.

[0009] According to a further development of the invention, a mediumchannel of the filler on a front side facing the outlet area is providedwith a frontal, conical depression as a flow guidance geometry.Particularly with a filler constructed as a sleeve and provided with aninternal hole, it is possible to widen and therefore increase the speedof a medium flow in the filler, which is useful for influencing themedium jet. The conical depression provided for this purpose widens inthe medium flow direction and achieves a maximum cross-section on thefront side of the filler.

[0010] According to a further development of the invention, on aninternal geometry of the applicator is provided at least one spacer forthe positioning of the filler. With the aid of a spacer a simple,inexpensive and precise fitting of the filler in the applicator is madepossible, so that the spacer ensures a clearly defined positioning ofthe filler in the applicator and therefore a precise medium channel isobtained. As dimensional fluctuations in the medium channel have amarked effect on the medium outlet characteristics, a great interest isattached here to a precise, but still easily implementable relationshipbetween applicator and filler. The spacer is in particular in the formof a positively acting stop edge in the applicator, against which thefiller is pressed during fitting and which can optionally beadditionally fixed by positive, non-positive or integral joining.

[0011] According to a further development of the invention, on an innerface of the applicator facing the front side of the filler can beprovided as the flow guidance geometry a guide cone. A central axis ofthe guide cone is in particular almost parallel to the applicatorcentral axis and uniformly widens a medium jet impacting virtuallyparallel to these axes, so that a radial distribution of the medium overat least two outlets is facilitated. In a preferred embodiment the guidecone is constructed as a truncated cone, so that the medium flowingagainst it firstly strikes a truncated cone face and then passes alongthe widening truncated cone in the direction of the outlets. In aparticularly preferred embodiment the applicator guide cone is combinedwith a conical depression of the filler, so that the cross-section forthe medium is constant throughout or widens in the direction of theoutlet, so that a laminar or turbulent medium flow can be obtained.

[0012] According to a further development of the invention, a valvemechanism is provided in the applicator for at least one outlet. A valvemechanism makes it possible to control a medium discharge from an outletparticularly by opening or partial or complete closing of the outlet ora medium channel positioned upstream of the outlet and influenceable bythe valve mechanism. The valve mechanisms can in particular beconstituted by pressure-controlled valves or mechanically controlledvalves. With the aid of a valve mechanism it is in particular possibleto keep a medium outlet speed over a discharge process at a minimumlevel determined by the viscosity of the medium. In articular at thestart and finish of the discharge process at least one outlet can beclosed by the valve mechanism in order to ensure the minimum mediumspeed.

[0013] According to a further development of the invention, the valvemechanism is controllable by a control device. A control device permitsa planned response of a valve mechanism, particularly by means ofmechanical, electromagnetic or electrical actuators. The control devicein particular influences at least one valve mechanism for the at leasttemporary opening and closing of at least one outlet as a function ofthe discharge process and in particular at the beginning and end of thedischarge process at least one outlet can be closed for maintaining aminimum pressure and/or by the alternating opening and closing ofoutlets by means of associated valve mechanisms, it is possible toobtain an alternating and in particular circulating medium jet.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, the at leasttwo outlets are oriented relative to one another in such a way thattheir main discharge directions cross. If the main discharge directionsof exiting medium jets cross, an interaction of the medium jets occursand consequently a jet pattern is influenced, said pattern beingobtained by the discharge device during medium discharge. This makes itpossible to predetermine a concentration distribution of the exitingmedium, which is in particular adapted to the requirements of mediumdosing in a medium application area. Particularly in the case of highviscosity, gel-like media, which are not atomized on discharge, as aresult of the crossing of the discharge directions the desiredconcentration distribution of the exiting medium can be obtained.

[0015] According to a further development of the invention theapplicator is manufactured as an integral plastic component. Thispermits an advantageous, inexpensive applicator manufacture. Assemblyprocesses, such as would be in particular necessary for fitting afiller, are consequently obviated.

[0016] According to a further development of the invention at least onemedium channel is integrally integrated into the applicator. Thus, theapplicator completely defines a flow geometry important for thedischarge of the medium from the outlets. This avoids any tolerancedinteraction of the applicator with other components of a medium pump inthe vicinity of the outlets.

[0017] According to a further development of the invention, the mediumchannel has an inlet area connectable to a medium pump and which isdesigned in such a way that it forms a tight plug connection in thefitted state with an outlet connecting piece of the medium pump. Thispermits an advantageous fitting of the applicator to the medium pump inwhich, in a single operation, a sealing operative connection isproduced, which is also suitable for transmitting actuating forces.

[0018] According to a further development of the invention, in an outletarea remote from the medium pump, the medium channel is divided up intoindividual channel portions running from the medium channel to theoutlets. This ensures an orientation of the medium with respect to thecorresponding outlet, which aids an advantageous discharge process. Thechannel portions, which bring about only a zonal separation of a frontarea of the applicator, ensures a stable connection of the front areasubstantially surrounded by the outlets to other applicator sections.

[0019] According to a further development of the invention, the mediumchannel is constructed with a substantially constant cross-section or across-section uniformly tapered in the discharge direction. This ensuresadvantageous manufacture of the medium channel by injection moulding.

[0020] According to a further development of the invention, the mediumchannel has a substantially star-shaped cross-section. As a result themedium channel only takes up a small volume, but can still ensure anadvantageous medium supply of all the outlets. An advantageousstabilization of the applicator results from the star-shapedcross-section.

[0021] Further advantages and features can be gathered from thedescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, the attachedclaims and drawings, wherein show:

[0022]FIG. 1 In an isometric view an applicator for a discharge device.

[0023]FIG. 2A planar sectional representation of an applicator prior tothe fitting of a filler.

[0024]FIG. 3A view from below of an applicator prior to the fitting of afiller.

[0025]FIG. 4A planar sectional representation of an end area of anapplicator with fitted filler.

[0026]FIG. 5A planar sectional representation of the end area of theapplicator with the fitted filler.

[0027]FIG. 6A planar sectional representation of another embodiment ofan applicator with fitted filler.

[0028]FIG. 7A planar sectional representation of a further embodiment ofan applicator with fitted filler.

[0029]FIG. 8A planar sectional representational of an applicatorconstructed as an integral plastic part.

[0030]FIG. 9A planar sectional view of a cross-section of the applicatorof FIG. 8.

[0031] All the applicator constructions shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 areintended for use with a not shown discharge device, which is providedwith a medium reservoir, which is in particular in the form of a one ormulti-part glass, plastic or metal container, as well as a medium pump,which in particular can be constructed as a thrust piston pump. On aside of the medium pump remote from the medium reservoir is fitted anapplicator 1, in the form of a nose olive here, which is used for theforwarding of the medium, kept under pressure and discharged from themedium container by the medium pump. For manual medium pump operation,the applicator 1 has two finger contact surfaces 2, on which the usermore particularly places the index and middle finger for operating thedischarge device, whilst the thumb of the user is applied to the notshown underside of the discharge device remote from the finger contactsurface 2. An outer contour of the applicator 1 has a slender end area 3remote from the not shown medium reservoir and which in the case of thepresent embodiment is conically tapered and spherically rounded on onefront side. On the end area are frontally provided several outlets 4,which are arranged in uniformly distributed, circular manner over auniform radius of the end area. The outlets 4 have a substantiallyrectangular cross-section and are tilted by an inclination angle 6 withrespect to an applicator central axis 5. Thus, with the aid of theapplicator 1, a not shown jet pattern can be obtained on discharging amedium, where the medium jets pass out in spaced manner through theoutlets in each case under the inclination angle 6 to the applicatorcentral axis 5.

[0032] For this purpose in the case of the embodiment of the applicatorfor a discharge device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 radially oriented outletchannels 7 are provided in circular manner over a circumference andthrough which the medium is supplied to the outlets 4. For the fittingof a filler 8, not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the applicator 1 isprovided a guide bush 9, shown in FIG. 2 and which has a substantiallycylindrical hole or bore. The filler can be non-positively pressed intothe guide bush 9 and can be integrally fixed when necessary.

[0033] In another embodiment of the applicator shown in FIG. 4, severalspacers in the form of spacing ribs 11 extend in parallel to theapplicator central axis 5 from an inner base 10 of the guide bush 9 andon whose front side remote from the inner base 10 positively engages aface 12 of the filler 8. In the applicator embodiment shown in FIG. 4,the filler 8 is provided with a U-shaped clip extension 13, which isfitted with the two legs of the U to the filler face, whilst across-member of the U is parallel to the inner base 10 of the applicator1. In conjunction with the spacing ribs 11, the filler 8 consequentlyforms a flow guidance geometry, which in conjunction with the outlets 4is responsible for a clearly defined medium discharge from theapplicator. The supply of the medium to be discharged to the flowguidance geometry takes place by means of a medium channel 14 providedas a central hole or bore in the filler 8.

[0034]FIG. 5 shows the geometries of FIG. 4 in a sectional planeorthogonal to the applicator central axis 5. The outlet channel 7between the spacing ribs formed by the filler 8 and applicator 1 areclearly visible. FIG. 5 also shows the medium channel 14 in the form ofa cylindrical bore in the filler 8, whilst the two legs of the U-shapedclip extension 13 are shown in sectional form.

[0035] In another embodiment of the applicator for a discharge deviceaccording to FIG. 6, the filler 8 projects directly upstream of theoutlet 4 into the guide bush 9 of the applicator 1 and by means of anoutlet cone 16 widening towards the outlet 4 and provided frontally onthe filler 8, forms a flow guidance geometry for the medium passing out.In this embodiment the inner base 10 of the applicator 1 is planar. Theinclination angle 6 of the main discharge direction is essentiallydetermined by the outlet cone 16 in combination with the geometry of theoutlet 4.

[0036] In a further embodiment for an applicator for a discharge deviceshown in FIG. 7, the inner base 10 of the applicator 1 is zonallyconstructed as a truncated cone-shaped guide cone 15, which projectsinto an outlet cone 16 of the filler 8 and consequently, in conjunctionwith the outlet cone 16 and the geometry of the outlet 4, forms theoutlet channel 7. The guide cone 15 and outlet cone 16 constitute a flowguidance geometry in the sense of the present invention.

[0037] In a further embodiment of an applicator for a discharge deviceshown in FIG. 8, in the same way as in FIG. 2, there are five uniformlycircumferentially distributed outlets 4 a. The applicator 1 a ismanufactured as an integral plastic injection moulding and has anintegral medium channel 14 a. As a result of the sectional plane chosenin FIG. 8 and the circumferential distribution of the outlets 4 a roundthe applicator 1 a, only a partial area of the medium channel 14 a isvisible in the sectional representation according to FIG. 8. During themanufacture of the applicator 1 a in the injection moulding process, themedium channel 14 a is in particularly kept free by a slender coreprovided in an injection mould.

[0038] At an inlet area 17 a remote from the outlet area a cross-sectionof the medium channel 14 a is widened in such a way that an outletconnecting piece 19 a, diagrammatically shown in FIG. 8, of a not shownmedium pump can be positively and/or non-positively coupled. In theoutlet area remote from the medium pump, the medium channel 14 a isseparated into individual channel sections 18 a running from the mediumchannel 14 a to the outlets 4 a and consequently permits a uniformdistribution of the medium to be discharged over the individual outlets4 a.

[0039] The medium channel 14 a has a substantially constantcross-section shown in FIG. 9 and which is provided for an advantageousmanufacture by plastic injection moulding with a uniform taper in thedirection of the outlets 4 a, so as to facilitate removal from theinjection mould. The cross-section of the medium channel 14 a issubstantially star-shaped, so that despite the slender construction theinjection mould core has an advantageous stability and the mediumchannel has a small overall volume. The small overall volume prevents aconsiderable quantity of the medium to be discharged remaining in theapplicator 1 a and consequently there can be no undesired dribblingafter medium dosing has taken place. An advantageous stability of theapplicator 1 a is also brought about by the star-shaped cross-section ofthe medium channel 14 a. In cross-section in the embodiment shown, thestar shape is formed by five star prongs, which are axially roughlyaligned with the five outlets 4 a.

[0040] The stability of the applicator 1 a is also assisted bystiffening webs 20 a extending radially from the applicator central axis5 and supporting the medium channel 14 a in the applicator 1 a. In thearea remote from the star-shaped branch of the medium channel 4 acavities 21 a are provided which, like the medium channel 4 a, can beimplemented by cores in the injection mould and are provided forreducing material accumulations for the applicator 1 a constructed as aplastic injection moulding. Corresponding material accumulations candeteriorate the surface quality, e.g. by dip and shrinkage points.

1. Discharge device for at least one medium with a medium reservoir, amedium pump and an applicator (1, 1 a) in which a medium guide isprovided and which has an outlet area for a medium discharge fitted to aslender end area remote from the medium reservoir, wherein at least twooutlets (4, 4 a) are provided at the outlet area.
 2. Discharge deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the outlets (4, 4 a) for the mediumdischarge are oriented in at least two different main dischargedirections.
 3. Discharge device according to claim 2, wherein at leastone outlet for a main discharge direction is in an angular range (6, 6a) of 10 to 80ø to an applicator central axis.
 4. Discharge deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the at least two outlets (4, 4 a) areuniformly distributed over the circumference of the applicator (1, 1 a)with respect to the applicator central axis (5, 5 a).
 5. Dischargedevice according to claim 1, wherein, considered in the dischargedirection, a flow guidance geometry (15, 16) for the medium is providedupstream of at least one outlet (4).
 6. Discharge device according toclaim 5, wherein a medium channel (14) of the filler (8) is provided ona front side facing the outlet area with a frontal, conical depressionas a flow guidance geometry (15, 16).
 7. Discharge device according toclaim 1, wherein at least one spacer (11) for positioning the filler (8)is provided on an internal geometry of the applicator (1).
 8. Dischargedevice according to claim 5, wherein a guide cone (15) is provided as aflow guidance geometry (15, 16) on an inner face (10) of the applicatorfacing the medium pump.
 9. Discharge device according to claim 1,wherein a valve mechanism is provided for at least one outlet (4, 4 a)in the applicator (1, 1 a).
 10. Discharge device according to claim 9,wherein the valve mechanism is controlled by a control device. 11.Discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two outlets(4, 4 a) are oriented relative to one another in such a way that theirmain discharge directions cross.
 12. Discharge device according to claim1, wherein the applicator (1 a) is manufactured as an integral plasticcomponent.
 13. Discharge device according to claim 1, wherein at leastone medium channel (14 a) is integrally integrated into the applicator(1 a).
 14. Discharge device according to claim 13, wherein the mediumchannel (14 a) has an inlet area (17 a) connectable to a medium pump andwhich is designed in such a way that in the fitted state it forms atight plug connection with an outlet connecting piece (19 a) of themedium pump.
 15. Discharge device according to claim 13, wherein in anoutlet area remote from the medium pump, the medium channel (14 a) isseparated into individual channel sections (18 a) running to the outlets(4 a).
 16. Discharge device according to claim 3, wherein the mediumchannel (14 a) is constructed with a substantially constantcross-section or a cross-section uniformly tapered in the dischargedirection.
 17. Discharge device according to claim 15, wherein themedium channel (14 a) has a substantially star-shaped cross-section.